The Bimal Gurung camp of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha suffered a major setback with the party’s chief election coordinator, Subha Pradhan resigning along with 11 other Kalimpong district committee leaders.

Pradhan dropped broad hints of aligning with the BJP, prompting the Gurung faction to remind the deserters the importance of “regionalism”

Other prominent faces to leave the Gurung camp with him were former elected Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Sabha member and vice-president of Kalimpong district committee Gopal Ruchal, as well as others from Kalimpong like Sangay Bhutia, Gyan Bahadur Chhetri and Hari Sharma, and from Darjeeling, Tilak Chhetri.

After the resignation, Pradhan said he felt that main issue (statehood) was being kept on the backburner in the volatile political atmosphere following the return of Bimal Gurung after over three years.

Gurung had dumped the BJP and aligned with Trinamul in October last year alleging that the saffron party was not serious about hill issues.

Pradhan, however, said: “Regarding the main issue, the BJP has mentioned (it) in its sankalp patra (manifesto)....”

In recent times, a number of Gurung camp leaders have joined the BJP, including the party’s vice president Kalyan Dewan (now the BJP hill president), former GTA Sabha member Tilak Chand Roka and former party spokesperson B.P. Bajgain.

Asked if Pradhan would follow suit, Pradhan said: “As an alternative I see BJP but I am not sure what the party (BJP) is thinking about me.”

Observers believe this is enough hint of the political course Pradhan plans to chart. Similar hints were dropped by many others who resigned too.

The Gurung camp said that they had not officially received the resignation letters and had come to know about the development through social media.

Anil Lopchan, Gurung camp spokesman, told deserters the importance of regionalism. “Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was born for Gorkhaland and the issue is related to our identity and regional issues. If the regional party goes into oblivion it would mean our regional issues going into oblivion,” he said. “Our friends, wherever they go, should safeguard and promote regionalism.”

A senior leader of the Bimal camp said that for some time the BJP leaders were trying to poach their leaders.